Saturday, May 29, 2010

Obviously I love books but I am also a huge fan of tattoos and certain piercings. Today I was spontaneous and checked off another thing on my bucket list! I got my nose pierced :) I was up in Muskoka today and they had a ridiculous deal on piercings and for $20.00 I got my nose pierced, the cleaning stuff, and a extra tiny stud. I am not a fan of the current size of my piercing but in a few weeks the tiny stud will be in. Today is a good day!

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits. In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

In Alyson Noel's most darkly seductive Immortals novel yet, Ever fights for control of her body, her soul-and the timeless true love she's been chasing for centuries.

Ever is trying to help Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and acting recklessly, she poses the ultimate threat-exposing their secret world to the outside. As Ever struggles to keep the Immortals hidden, it only propels Haven closer to the enemy-Roman and his evil companions.

At the same time, Ever delves deeper into dark magic to free Damen from Roman's power. But when her spell backfires, it binds her to the one guy who's hell-bent on her destruction. Now there's a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, and no matter what she does, she can't stop thinking about Roman-and longing for his touch. As she struggles to resist the fiery attraction threatening to consume her, Roman is more than willing to take advantage of her weakened state and Ever edges closer and closer to surrender.
Frantic to break the spell before its too late, Ever turns to Jude for help, risking everything she knows and loves to save herself-and her future with Damen .

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does.

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends-one of whom is already hooked.
And so is someone else…

It's been centuries since Isabeau St. Croix barely survived the French Revolution. Now she's made her way back to the living and she must face the ultimate test by confronting the evil British lord who left her for dead the day she turned into a vampire. That's if she can control her affection for Logan Drake, a vampire whose bite is as sweet as the revenge she seeks.

The clans are gathering for Helena's royal coronation as the next vampire queen, and new alliances are beginning to form now that the old rifts of Lady Natasha's reign have started to heal. But with a new common enemy, Leander Montmarte--a vicious leader who hopes to force Solange to marry him and usurp the power of the throne for himself--the clans must stand together to preserve the peace he threatens to destroy.

This second adventure in the Drake Chronicles--told from both Logan's and Isabeau's perspectives--has all the same butt-kicking action, heart-pounding romances and snarky humor that readers loved in Hearts at Stake, as well as exciting new revelations about the vampire dynasties to keep readers coming back for more.

Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it's not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you're a normal teenage girl, but when you're half human, half mermaid, like Lily, there's no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily's mermaid identity is a secret that can't get out, since she's not just any mermaid-she's a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn't feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she's been living on land and going to Seaview High School ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems-like her obnoxious biker-boy neighbor, Quince Fletcher-but it has that one major perk: Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren't really the casual dating type-the instant they "bond," it's for life.

When Lily's attempt to win Brody's love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily ever after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal
teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at
school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And
now that Karen's dead, she's still passing-this
time, as alive.

Meanwhile, Karen's dead friends have beenfingered in a high-profile murder, causing a newround of antizombie regulations that have forcedthem into hiding. Karen soon learns that the"murder" was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburgand his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence toexpose the fraud and prove her friends'' innocencemeans doing the unthinkable: becoming Pete''sgirlfriend. Karen''s only hope is that the enemynever realizes who she really is-because the consequences would be worse than death.

Jessamine Luxton has lived all her sixteen years in an isolated cottage near Alnwick Castle, with little company apart from the plants in her garden. Her father, Thomas, a feared and respected apothecary, has taught her much about the incredible powers of plants: that even the most innocent-looking weed can cure -- or kill.

When Jessamine begins to fall in love with a mysterious boy who claims to communicate with plants, she is drawn into the dangerous world of the poison garden in a way she never could have imagined . . .

After a Fenris, or werewolf, killed their grandmother and almost killed them, sisters Scarlett and Rosie March devote themselves to hunting and killing the beasts that prey on teenaged girls, learning how to lure them with red cloaks and occasionally using the help of their old friend, Silas, the woodsman's son.

Solace Morgan was born a vampire. Raised in foster care, she has always tried to keep her abilities secret, until an eerie encounter with a faceless man prompts her to run away. Finding others with similar gifts, Solace soon becomes caught up in a strange, more vibrant world than she ever knew existed. But when the mysterious Professor Lukin takes an interest in her friends, she is forced to start asking questions of her own. What happened to her parents? Who is Sharpsoft? And since when has there been a medie

Sometime in the future, after devastating wars and fires, a lonely, windswept island in the north is populated solely by women. Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers-expert equestrians and archers-whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they've been told, is men.

When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects-high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up-found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things, which introduce a world they have never known? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed-at all costs?

Reminiscent of The Giver but with a feminist twist, Nomansland is a powerful, shocking story that will challenge young readers' perspectives and provoke much discussion over the timely and controversial issues presented.

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she''s averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian''s basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents'' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

In this sequel to New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder’s Possessions, Lindsay finds out that she, too, is possessed, and must return to creepy Marlwood Academy in order to rid herself of the spirit. Lindsay’s afraid of what the spirit is telling her to do—kill Mandy! But the secrets of Marlwood go much deeper than Lindsay thought. Sometimes the girls who seem like enemies are actually on your side. And the voices you trust the most—the voices that come from within—are the ones that want you dead.

Title: Keys To The Repository Author: Melissa De La CruzRelease Date: June 29, 2010Format: Hardcover ($14.99 CDN)Click here for a list of other books in the Blue Bloods series

From the Publisher:

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens.

Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods.

"The music came back up and the next group of little girls, slightly older, came out. There was a lot of that in the next hour and change. I liked dance, and it was no reflection on the kids, but my will to live began to seep away on about the fifth group of sequined children... "

Anita Blake is back in St. Louis and trying to live a normal life-as normal as possible for someone who is a legal vampire executioner and a U. S. Marshal. There are lovers, friends and their children, school programs to attend. In the midst of all the ordinary happiness a vampire from Anita's past reaches out. She was supposed to be dead, killed in an explosion, but the Mother of All Darkness is the first vampire, their dark creator. It's hard to kill a god. This dark goddess has reached out to her here-in St. Louis, home of everyone Anita loves most. The Mother of All Darkness has decided she has to act now or never, to control Anita, and all the vampires in America.

The Mother of All Darkness believes that the triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude with Anita and the werewolf Richard Zeeman has enough power for her to regain a body and to immigrate to the New World. But the body she wants to possess is already taken. Anita is about to learn a whole new meaning to sharing her body, one that has nothing to do with the bedroom. And if the Mother of All Darkness can't succeed in taking over Anita's body for herself, she means to see that no one else has the use of it, ever again. Even Belle Morte, not always a friend to Anita, has sent word: "Run if you can..."

Far from the land of her birth, Moirin sets out across Tatar territory to find Bao, the proud and virile Ch''in fighter who holds the missing half of her diadh-anam, the divine soul-spark of her mother''s people. After a long ordeal, she not only succeeds, but surrenders to a passion the likes of which she''s never known. But the lovers'' happiness is short lived, for Bao is entangled in a complication that soon leads to their betrayal.

ZoA Martinique's life hasn't been ordinary for quite awhile. First she developed the ability to travel outside her body at will-where she encountered some seriously weird things. Things that left her with powers that she didn't really want or need. Still, a person can get used to almost anything- even being a Wraith. Though more often than not, it plays serious havoc with her love life.

But for once, ZoA is glad of her abilities. Bodies are showing up all over Atlanta, drained of blood. They're beings from another astral plane, called Revenants-and they're being stalked by her old enemy, the Phantasm. The Revenants are hardly the nicest of creatures-but to preserve the cosmic balance, ZoA will need to put everything on the line to save them...

Seattle police detective Joanne Walker started the year mostly dead, and she''s ending it trying not to be consumed by evil. Literally.

She''s proven she can handle the gods and the walking dead. But a cannibalistic serial killer? That''s more than even she bargained for. What''s worse, the brutal demon can only be tracked one way. If Joanne is to stop its campaign of terror, she''ll have to hunt it where it lives: the Lower World, a shamanistic plane of magic and spirits.

Trouble is, Joanne''s skills are no match for the dangers she''s about to face-and her on-the-job training could prove fatal to the people she''s sworn to protect….

They can''t even be in the same room together...
Ever since their failed elopement years ago, Prisca Hawthorne has taunted, insulted, and in every way tried to push him away. If only her heart didn''t break every time Lord William Westfield left her...

But staying apart is even worse...
Lord William throws himself into drinking, gambling, and debauchery and pretends not to care about Prisca at all. But when he returns to find a rival werewolf vying for her hand, he''ll stop at nothing to claim the woman who should have been his all along.

Can Prisca forgive the unforgivable, or are the moon-crossed lovers going to be forced into a battle of wills that could be fatal?

From the highly acclaimed author of The Treasure Keeper and Queen of Dragons comes this mesmerizing new novel of the drákon, a supersensual race of shapeshifters whose world exists side by side with our own. In The Time Weaver, a young drákon woman discovers she possesses a unique gift, one that brings her closer to her destined love-at the cost of their very lives.
Honor Carlisle may have been born into the drákon clan but she's always felt like a stranger to her kin. It's an intuition that proves true when she receives a mysterious letter-a letter sent by her future self. Honor learns she is a Time Weaver: a creature with the extraordinary ability to transport herself into the past or future.

But the letter contains a dire warning. If Honor remains in her home at Darkfrith, she is certain to be killed. Fleeing for sanctuary among old friends in Spain, she practices her Weaving and unknowingly draws closer to an even more immediate danger. For on one of her Weaves into the future, Honor encounters the very man she should most avoid: the prince of a rival tribe of drákon.

Drawn to Prince Alexandru of Zaharen, Honor is unable to resist the temptation of Weaving to him again and again across time. As they surrender to a desire that brings the present and future ever closer, they realize they are true soulmates. But they also risk fulfilling a terrible prophecy-for their union is destined to wreak havoc. Now Honor and Sandu must place their trust-and their lives-in each other's hands, and their faith in a magical love that could restore order to the drákon universe-or destroy it forever.

Sick of hearing about vampires? So is Meena Harper.
But her bosses are making her write about them anyway, even though Meena doesn't believe in them.

Not that Meena isn't familiar with the supernatural. See, Meena Harper knows how you're going to die. (Not that you're going to believe her. No one ever does.)

But not even Meena's precognition can prepare her for what happens when she meets-then makes the mistake of falling in love with-Lucien Antonescu, a modern-day prince with a bit of a dark side. It's a dark side a lot of people, like an ancient society of vampire hunters, would prefer to see him dead for.
The problem is, Lucien's already dead. Maybe that's why he's the first guy Meena's ever met whom she could see herself having a future with. See, while Meena's always been able to see everyone else's future, she's never been able look into her own.

And while Lucien seems like everything Meena has ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, he might turn out to be more like a nightmare.

Now might be a good time for Meena to start learning to predict her own future. . . .If she even has one.

In this riveting new installment of New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series, Gideon, keeper of the Demon of Lies, fights to uncover the truth….

Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her. But he wants to . . . almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her means risking everything. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love . . .

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Liz Robertson is in trouble. Her business is floundering and her relationship with son, Justin, is drowning. As a single mother, she is spread thin and there are things that she misses; like the fact someone is stealing money from her event planning business. Tired, frustrated, and stretched beyond her capabilities, she stumbles upon an unlikely business resource; her son's soccer coach. Ready to try anything to salvage her business and her relationship, she begins to apply those lessons she learns on the pitch. But will it be enough and in time to allow her to make a living and have a life?

My Review:

At first glance this novel did not appeal to me as it lacked the paranormal elements I am so addicted to but at only 140 pages this little book is full of surprises. The Pitch is unlike your typical "how to" novel. Linda J Lord serves up some sound advice on how to succeed in business through telling a heartwarming story of how her protagonist Liz Robertson pulls herself up by her bootstraps by taking note of the advice her son's soccer coach gives to his team. If you are a current business owner or hoping to be one Linda J Lord's novel would be an excellent resource for you acquire. In addition to its target audience I will say that the advice within this novel can be applicable to more than just business owners so if you are anyone questioning the direction your life has taken I recommend that you check out this novel that is available at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble or enter the giveaway that will be outlined below and hopefully you will win yourself a copy!

Giveaway Information:

This giveaway is open internationally and all you have to do is leave a comment/question for the author below regarding business, soccer, or anything else you can think up.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

My May 2010 Karen Marie Moning newsletter just came in and I am excited to pass on some great news! The cover of Shadowfever (due out December 7, 2010) as well as the synopsis can be viewed here. Please check out her site for the synopsis as well as to view the cover as it is "revealed" in full. Additionally it was announced that a graphic novel of the Fever world is also in the works. Del Ray stated, "Because it is set during Moning's five-book Fever series, the graphic novel will serve as an entry point into the Fever universe, introducing the sidhe-seers and their ongoing battle to protect humans from the immortal Fae, while giving already "fevered" fans thrilling new glimpses into beloved characters."

My fingers are just itching to dive into the pages of Shadowfever. I can't wait for the release! For more information on KMM click here for her cover release and synopsis, here for her blog, and here for her website (make sure you snoop around her sites for some extras like Mac's music play list more).

*For more information check out Penguin Groups Official Book Website for Vampire Academy here.

From The Publisher:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong…
After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives beyond the Academy’s iron gates to begin. But Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri, and he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever

My Review:

I have been anticipating the release of this novel from the moment I finished reading the last sentence of book four, Blood Promise in August of 2009. I was extremely excited and very thankful when this book was delivered right to my door courtesy of Penguin Group Canada.

From beginning to end this book met my high expectations and at times exceeded them. Richelle Mead is an extremely talented author whose descriptive writing style and dynamic protagonist make for one of the most entertaining, suspenseful, and enthralling reads in the young adult series fiction genre.

After a unique and unexpected test at graduation Rose, Lissa, Adrian and the rest of their graduating class make their way to the royal court where in addition to the main plot, further court intrigue, secrets, and deception are revealed. In the previous novel Blood Promise, it was revealed to readers that there may be a way to restore a Strigoi (a Moroi who has taken an innocent life and become an undead vampire) to a Moroi. This myth, however unlikely, is one that Rose must discover the truth of if she is to save the love of her life Dimitri. It is this particular plot thread that had me so engrossed in this novel, reading the pages as rapidly as I could to discover if my questions would finally be answered.

As a protagonist, Rose presents herself as a tough kick-ass heroine but as you read through her inner dialogue you realize there are more layers to Rose then one might have previously thought. Her unique relationship to her best friend Lissa Dragomir is one I enjoy reading about, especially when more information is revealed regarding Lissa's gift of spirit and the effects of Rose being Shadow Kissed. When Adrian was first introduced I didn't find him a particularly enjoyable character despite his quick wit and suave attitude. Over the course of the last two novels as I learned more about the reasons why Adrian does the things he does and he revealed a more selfless attitude I developed more respect for him and his playboy ways. While I miss the old tension, suspense and anticipation between Rose and Dimitri that was a main theme in the first few novels, the tragic circumstances that turned Dimitri into a Strigoi and as a result has him hunting Rose with the intention of killing her, allows the reader to experience the same themes in a different way. As the newest book progresses readers can definitely expect the dynamics of Rose's and Dimitri's relationship to once again shift in unexpected and thrilling ways.

While I will leave what happens between Rose and Dimitri for you to discover I will say it was unexpected and left me frustrated in all the right ways! As with all Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy novels the end will leave you with more questions than answers and if your anything like me you'll be pulling your hair out when you realize the book is over and you have to wait or the next one to come out. Readers will be happy to know the wait is not to long as we can expect the sixth novel in this series, Last Sacrifice to be released December 14, 2010.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Getting books in my mailbox is beyond exciting and I would like to thank Penguin Group for providing me with a copy of Spirit Bound! Additionally thank you to McArthur & Company for introducing to me some new Canadian authors. For a list of links to authors and novels mentioned in this edition of In My Mailbox please check the bottom of this post!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Ok so I have finally decided to do my first follower contest! I was forever debating on doing a contest but the book blogging guru Parajunkee made some pretty excellent points in her Blogging 101 post so here we are. Ready, set, go! As you'll see on the form in addition to the winner of this contest another person will be randomly chosen but I won't tell you the criteria for how I am choosing until the end of the contest!

Contest details and rules:

Fill out the form below

You must be a follower of The Book Guru

Winner will choose and receive ONE book chosen from the options below

Contest is open to everyone

Contest ends when I hit 200 followers so pass the world along and lets get this done!

Please comment below so you know you entered this contest

If you win I will email you. Please respond within 48 hours of my email letting me know which book you would like or I will choose another winner.

Young Adult

Adult

Looking for something new? Why not try one of these authors!

*Note: A few of these book options are not yet released but are set to release in May. Should you choose a book that is not released I will ship it as soon as I may after the release date.

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.

But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?

My Review:

Ever since I was a little girl I have been in love with dragons. It started with my father reading me The Hobbit and singing to me Puff The Magic Dragon, it continued as a teenager with The Dragon Nimbus series by Irene Radford, made permanent by a dragon tattoo on my hip when I was a teenager, and renewed two days ago by Carrie Vaughs new young adult novel, The Voices of Dragons.

In this novel the young protagonist Kay Wyatt lives in a world living exactly like our own except one dragon sized detail. Just outside of the town she lives in, is a boarder separating the human world from a vast expanse of land devoid of human life but filled with dragons. One day Kay has an accident while rock climbing along the boarder and is rescued and befriended by a dragon named Artegal.

Carrie Vaughn brings the reality of humans and dragons co-existing on the earth to life in a unique and believable way. Her writing style was smooth, quick paced and had me staying up late into the night engorging on the written word. Throughout the novel I experienced an array of emotions ranging from excitement, intrigue, curiosity, sadness, frustration, suspense, and urgency all related to the characters and plot. As the clock on my nightstand read 1:30AM I told myself, "just one more chapter" but at the end of each one I was compelled to turn the page to find out what happened next. My only criticism of this entertaining read is that I wanted to know more about the dragons. Why were they in hiding? How long have they existed? What is their society like?

Overall this is an excellent novel for young adults and adults who enjoy reading Young Adult Fiction. There is some dialogue regarding sexual activity within the novel but it is written and handled by the characters in a age appropriate, realistic, and ultimately mature way. I hope you get the chance to read this novel in the future and I hope even more that you love it as much as I did.

For a novel written in the Young Adult Fantasy genre I give Voices of Dragons a rating of:

Book trailers are becoming more and more popular. In the past I have been somewhat bored by many book trailers as I feel they lack creativity. Maggie Stiefvater's new trailer for Linger is stunning and incredibly creative. Whats your opinion on book trailers? Good, bad, indifferent?

I am so very jealous of a fellow book blogger @ Extreme Reader Book Reviews because she got to meet up with Kelley Armstrong (a fellow Ontario/Canadian of mine ;)) at a little indie bookstore in Charlotte NC. Check out her post as I believe she is going to have a signed book and some cool swag to give away.

Check out the Open Book Society for a chance to win Aprilynne Pike's new novel Spells.

I really liked Parajunkee's review on The Forest Of Hands And Teeth. I absolutely agree with her comments on the authors transitions from internal dialogue to battling it out with zombies and her comments on the characters stupidity made me laugh!

Additionally check out Parajunkee's Blogging 101 tips which are AMAZING. Her most recent one was regarding doing contests/giveaways to promote readership and generate new followers. I have thought a lot on this issue because I was torn between agreeing with doing them as a marketing scheme and worrying that people would only follow me for the contest. I have been content to work hard on posting reviews and recommendations but I can't say as I don't get excited every time I gain a new follower. So after much himing and hawing (does this term even have a correct spelling?) I think that sometime in the future I will be doing a contest in hopes that the new readers will stick with me after the contest is over because they enjoy my blog!

And since its Friday make sure you head on over to Crazy-for-Books to join in the weekly Blog Hop!

In this bittersweet romance, two teens living decades apart form a bond that will change their lives forever.

Amy is drawn to the misty, mysterious clearing behind her Aunt Mae''s place because it looks like the perfect place to hide from life. A place to block out the pain of her last relationship, to avoid the kids in her new town, to stop dwelling on what her future holds after high school.

Then, she meets a boy lurking in the mist-Henry. Henry is different from any other guy Amy has ever known. And after several meetings in the clearing, she''s starting to fall for him.

But Amy is stunned when she finds out just how different Henry really is. Because on his side of the clearing, it''s still 1944. By some miracle, Henry and his family are stuck in the past. Amy''s crossing over to Henry''s side brings him more happiness than he''s ever known-but her presence also threatens to destroy his safe existence.

The Clearing is a tender and poignant tale about falling in love, finding strength, and having the courage to make your own destiny

My Review:

At 228 pages this short novel is the perfect rainy day read. From the very first chapter I was engaged in the protagonist Amy's story and the mysterious plot. The author Heather Davis takes us on a quick but satisfying journey of first love and self discovery. What is only hinted at in the publishers synopsis but is included in the authors on her web site, is that Amy is a young woman who recently moved to a new town to escape an abusive relationship with her ex boyfriend. While I don't want to give to much of the situation away I was incredibly impressed that when writing about how Amy eventually deals with the issue she allows Amy to deal with it on her terms. Saying more would give to much away but I hope if you take the time to read this delightful book you will feel the same way. Additionally I found the love story between Amy and Henry to be fresh, incredibly sweet, and very mature. Although I'll let you read the story yourself to find out if it has a happy ending I will say it was unexpected in a good way but admittedly I was surprised when I turned the page and found that the story had ended. Overall I highly recommend that you include this novel on your list of books to read this summer, perhaps over a cup of tea on a rainy day!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Title: Dead In The Family
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: May 4, 2010
Format: Hardcover ($32.50 CDN)
Age Group: Adult
Other book in the series: Click here for a listing of books 1-10
Book: Provided by Penguin Group

From the Publisher:

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry...

My Review (almost spoiler free):

When I first came upon a Sookie Stackhouse novel in the bookstore I was put off by the covers. I try not to judge a book by it's cover but I have never been drawn to "cartoonish" book jackets and so I passed up on this series far to many times. When I watched the first episode of True Blood on HBO I was immediately hooked and from the very first chapter of the first book I was became a devoted fan of Charlaine Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse series.

I received a copy of the tenth book in the series, Dead In The Family a week before its release date courtesy of Penguin Group Canada. I am not in the least bit ashamed to admit that when I opened up the thick manila envelope and found the newest Sookie book inside I jumped up and down like a school girl. From start to finish I devoured this book within the day and although it doesn't measure up to my favorite Sookie book (Dead To The World Book 4) it was a very entertaining read and has temporarily provided me with my Sookie fix. As always I immensely enjoyed Charlaine Harris's writing style. I love the flow of her writing and how through the smooth and often humourous inner dialogue and interaction between character, the personalities of Sookie and the gang truly pop off the page and come alive. I had hoped for a little more steamy "romantic" scenes between Sookie and the delicious Eric Northman but things got a little complicated between Eric and Sookie due to some unexpected guests to the town of Bon Temps.

I did feel like the plot of this book wasn't as complex as I would have liked. In this novel the focus wasn't on one particular character or event but rather a little bit on multiple ones. Throughout the chapters you get exposed to another side of Sookie's Faery cousin Claude who comes to Sookie for help after the death of Claudine. I particularly enjoyed the development of Sookie's relationship to one of her remaining family members as well as a scene where Sookie comes to the aid of Alicde Herveaux, the Alpha of Shreveport werewolf pack.

Overall I did enjoy this book but I felt it lacked some of the spunk, pizzazz and drama of the previous Sookie novels. If your a fan of the Sookie series I am fairly certain that you won't be disappointed as Charlaine Harris just can't write a bad novel but she sets the bar very high for herself and this one just didn't quite meet my expectations. Regardless I am an unshakable and devoted fan of Charlaine Harris and the Sookie Stackhouse series and the long wait until the next book is released stretches before me and all of her devoted fans.

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she's angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he's under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry...

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death-causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead-and at Riley's own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley-including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother-and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

Las Vegas socialite and otherwordly avenger Joanna Archer gave up everything when she embraced mortality-abandoning her powers and altering her destiny to save a child . . . and a city.

Now her former allies are her enemies-and her enemies have nothing to fear. Yet still she is bound to a prophecy that condemns her to roam a nightmare landscape that ordinary humans cannot see and dare not enter. And a beast is on her trail-an insane killer blinded by bloodlust, who's determined to rip much more from Joanna than merely her now-fragile life.

Survival is no longer an option in this dark realm where good and evil have blurred into confusing shades of gray-unless she can gather together an army of onetime foes and destroy everything she once believed in.

Allison Beckstrom is committed to her work tracing illegal spells. Now, there's an apocalyptic storm bearing down on Portland, and when it hits, all the magic in the area will turn unstable and destructive. To stop it from taking out the entire city, Allie and her lover, the mysterious Zayvion Jones, must work with the Authority-the enigmatic arbiters of all things magic-and take a stand against a magical wildstorm that will obliterate all in its path...

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She's got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump's ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

Kate Daniels cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to deal with-especially if they involve Atlanta's shape-shifting community.
And now there's a new player in town-a foe that may be too much for even Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I'm retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren't aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I'm a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn't made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive.